A Study of Prepositional Errors in Writing in English as a Second Language

Abstract

A research study was undertaken to identify the prepositional errors in writing in English made by the undergraduates of the Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka and to find out the reasons why they commit such mistakes and to recommend remedial measures to overcome the problem. A pre-test, an intermediate test and a post-test were administered during the survey period. The pre-Test was conducted as soon as the students entered the Faculty of Agriculture and an intermediate test after one week of the first semester and the post test at the end of the studies in the first year. A questionnaire survey was undertaken among the sampled group of 42 students as well as 5 students in the Faculty of Agriculture, 19 English teachers in two schools in the Anuradhapura District, and 4 Lecturers and 2 Instructors in English of Rajarata University of Sri Lanka. Frequencies and percentages of each category were computed for categorical variable and differences between categories were tested using Chi-square Kit. The results revealed the problematic areas of learning prepositions, and other relevant information with regard to the learning area and the external factors. However English in the surrounding, lack of English teachers, teaching methodology and classroom environment were identified as some of the problems the students have had.